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Sowing for a Great Awakening
a personal gui debook
CA R OLY N MOOR E
wi t h K r i s K e y
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Copyright 2013 by Carolyn Moore
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwisewithout prior written permission, except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles.
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013931012
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-62824-021-4
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-62824-044-3
ePub ISBN: 978-1-62824-045-0
uPDF ISBN: 978-1-62824-046-7
Unless otherwise indicated Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
TODAYS NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 2001, 2005 by Biblica.
Used by permission of Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked i1 are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked Tui Miss:ci are taken from Te Message Copyright
by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002.
Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Scripture quotations marked :sn are taken from the New American Standard Bible.
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
by Te Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Cover and page design by Ellen Parker Bibb
SEEDBED PUBLISHING
204 N. Lexington Avenue
Wilmore, Kentucky 40390
www.seedbed.com
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For Leroy,
who helped me encounter Jesus
at Maxwell House
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CONTENTS
How to Use This Book ............................................................. ix
Introduction .............................................................................. xiii
WEEK 1
Exercise 1 ............................................................................................3
Exercise 2 ............................................................................................5
Exercise 3 ............................................................................................7
Exercise 4 ........................................................................................... 8
Exercise 5 ......................................................................................... 11
WEEK 2
Exercise 1 .........................................................................................13
Exercise 2 .........................................................................................15
Exercise 3 ......................................................................................... 17
Exercise 4 .........................................................................................19
Exercise 5 .........................................................................................21
WEEK 3
Exercise 1 .........................................................................................23
Exercise 2 ........................................................................................ 26
Exercise 3 ........................................................................................ 28
Exercise 4 ........................................................................................ 30
Exercise 5 ........................................................................................ 34
WEEK 4
Exercise 1 .........................................................................................37
Exercise 2 ........................................................................................ 38
Exercise 3 .........................................................................................41
Exercise 4 ........................................................................................ 47
Exercise 5 ........................................................................................ 49
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WEEK 5
Exercise 1 .........................................................................................51
Exercise 2 ........................................................................................ 54
Exercise 3 .........................................................................................56
Exercise 4 .........................................................................................59
Exercise 5 ........................................................................................ 63
WEEK 6
Exercise 1 .........................................................................................67
Exercise 2 ........................................................................................ 70
Exercise 3 .........................................................................................73
Exercise 4 .........................................................................................76
Exercise 5 ........................................................................................ 80
WEEK 7
Exercise 1 ........................................................................................ 85
Exercise 2 .........................................................................................87
Exercise 3 ........................................................................................ 89
Exercise 4 ........................................................................................ 92
Exercise 5 .........................................................................................95
WEEK 8
Exercise 1 ........................................................................................ 99
Exercise 2 ......................................................................................101
Exercise 3 ..................................................................................... 102
Exercise 4 ..................................................................................... 104
Exercise 5 ..................................................................................... 108
Notes ............................................................................................ 111
CONTENTS
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ix
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
For this Encounter, you will need:
- A Bible
- A jouinal
- A couple of pens (in moie than one coloi)
- An inteinet connection
- A quiet place wheie you can encountei Jesus
A note about how to use these resources
We want you to encountei Jesus. We've stiuctuied this guidebook with
that encounter in mind. Rather than providing all the Scripture references
within the text here, we are asking you to do the work of fnding the passages
in your own Bible, so you can mark up the sections studied and begin to
create a habit of looking for where God is at work in Scripture. Sometimes
well ask you to go online to fnd the lyrics of a song or to listen in on one
weve found to be relevant. Tough we do provide space to answer some
questions directly in this book, for the most part we want you to write your
iesponses in youi own jouinal oi notebook. By giving you iesouices and
inviting your active participation, we hope to help you cultivate devotional
practices that will continue long afer this guidebook has been shelved.
CONTENTS
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x
A note from Carolyn about journaling
I have a confession to make. I've jouinaled on and of foi yeais and,
for the most part, it has been a richly rewarding part of my personal time
with God. Foi way too long, howevei, my jouinal entiies weie wiitten as
if to be iead. (Who knows: Maybe even published!) Because I appioached
jouinaling as if someone might one day iead what I'd wiitten, it always had
a veneer to it. A little too much polish, not enough transparency.
Ive since conquered that silliness and have learned how to write in
my jouinal just foi Jesus and me. I've discoveied Jesus doesn't giade on
penmanship. In my conversations with Him, I can be as messy as I want
to be. I can scribble, cross through, make notes in the margins, draw
nonsensical pictures, and generally do whatever works in the moment.
I ofen jouinal in two colois, wiiting my own thoughts in black oi
blue ink, and what I sense may be Spirit-inspired thoughts in red. When
I come acioss a thought that seems piofound (smaitei than I could have
thought of myself," as Asbuiy piofessoi Di. Bob Tuttle would say), I note
that thought in ied, just like the woids of Jesus in my Bible.
Sometimes I'll even wiite a question foi Jesus at the top of the page,
then jouinal eveiything I heai in ied. I don't tiy to analyze it; I just listen
and write. A week or so down the road, I may come back to that entry to
see how it sounds with the beneft of a little time and perspective. Ofen, I
am amazed at how helpful those entiies can be to my jouiney with Jesus.
I do believe He still speaks into our lives. I have encountered Him in the
piactice of jouinaling. I hope you will too.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
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xi
In fact, I hope the combination of this guidebook, youi own jouinal
(oi blog), the cieative piayei exeicises, inteiaction with the Woid of God,
and a quiet place to encountei Jesus will all conveige to cieate a spiiitual
revival in your life.
Know that as you begin, I am praying for you.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
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xiii
INTRODUCTION
You are a rebel. I am a rebel. It is our nature to rebel. Tis is the
human story. It began in Genesis with a loving God who invested all
creatures with the power of choice. Before humans ever hit the scene, an
angel in pursuit of the power of God rebelled against the holy order of
things. It was not enough for him to worship God. He wanted to be like
God, so he began to compete for that power and became Gods adversary.
God iejected him and evei since, he has been fghting against God foi
control of the human race. So this is our human condition: we are caught
up in this spiritual battle for control of our souls. It is like the undertow.
We are trying to get to the shore, but there is this constant force pulling us
away from the direction we know we should be moving. Tis is what Paul
means when he says our battle is not against fesh and blood but against
the rulers, authorities, and powers of the dark world and against the forc-
es of evil in the spiiitual iealm (Eph. 6:12).
Knowing we could never defeat that force on our own, God came to
our rescue and restored our power to overcome the enemy. Because we
couldnt do it on our own, He sent Christ to rescue us from the futility of
our sin and to restore us to God. And He did it not on our strength, but on
His grace.
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xiv
Jesus came to fght oui battles foi us.
No one paints that pictuie bettei than David in Psalm 18: He ieached
down fiom on high and took hold of me; he diew me out of deep wateis.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too
stiong foi me. . . . He biought me out into a spacious place; he iescued me
because he delighted in me (Ps. 18:16-19).
And our only responsibilityour right response in light of that
incredible gifis simply to believe it. When we respond by faith, we
encounter for ourselves the very One who has power to overcome our
spiritual enemy.
As you read the Word, think through the questions, write in your
jouinal, foim youi own piayeis, and expeiience the activities in this guide,
may you encounter the Jesus . . . who changes everything.
INTRODUCTION
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WEEK 1: EXERCISE #1
Lets start with Jesus.
In Colossians 1:13-23, Paul intioduces us to oui majestically cosmic
yet intimately peisonal iedeemei, Jesus. Tis is a stunning and compelling
description of Christ. Read this passage aloud, as if you were introducing
Jesus to an audience:
Te Son is the image of the invisible God, the frstborn over all creation. For
in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have
been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him
all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is
the beginning and the frstborn from among the dead, so that in everything
he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness
dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood,
shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in
your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you
by Christs physical body through death to present you holy in his sight,
without blemish and free from accusationif you continue in your faith,
established and frm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.
Tis is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every
creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
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Now take a pen or highlighter and highlight words or phrases that
stand out. Bettei yet, maik it up in youi Bible and not just heie in this book.
Squaie it oi undeiline it oi highlight any way you can to make it jump of
the page. Tis is a text you will want to return to frequently and perhaps
even commit to memory.
Now iepeat this piocess with Hebiews 1:1-4. Read it silently fiom
your Bible. Now read it aloud. Highlight, underline, and circle words and
phrases that stand out for you.
Repeat the piocess once moie with John 14:6-9.
What do these texts have in common:
How would you summaiize the cential idea they hold in common:
Encounter
Wiite this phiase on a pocket-sized caid you can caiiy with you: He
is the image of the invisible God.
On the back wiite this: He is the exact iepiesentation of His being."
Now spend time whispering these words to yourself. Do this
throughout the day. Meditate on these lines as you invite the Spirit of God
to sow" them into youi heait.
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WEEK 1: EXERCISE #2
If we want to see God, we must stait with Jesus. When we begin with a
vague notion of what God is like we tend to pioject oui own expeiiences,
foi bettei oi woise, in foimulating this image. (Because my fathei was
absent, God must be distant." Because my childhood pastoi stole fiom the
chuich, God can't be tiusted.") If we extiapolate oui vision of Jesus fiom
oui faulty undeistanding of God, we don't wind up seeing the ieal Jesus.
Sure, we might see a Jesus, but we will miss the Jesus. And let's face it: theie
aie some veiy fawed images of Jesus out theie.
In fact, to one degree or another we all have a distorted sense of Gods
image. It comes primarily from three sources: our parents, the church, and
traumatic experiences. Obviously, not every infuence is negative, but a
little here and a little there and before we know it, we have missed a biblical
understanding of God.
Te aim of this study is to help us get a better, more biblical image of
the Jesus we claim to follow. Te way we undeistand God (in Jesus) laigely
determines the way we see ourselves. Te way we see ourselves determines
the way we tieat otheis. Follow the logic: Oui ability to accuiately iefect the
image of God depends on our vision of who God is and what God is like.
Take fve minutes to read and refect on the text below:
Follow Gods example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the
way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant
ofering and sacrifce to God.
Ephesians 5:12
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Encounter
Take a few minutes to sketch out in youi jouinal examples of how youi
image of God has been shaped by parents, the church, or experience. If you
cant come up with personal examples, make some observations of how
you have seen this at play in others.
Te secret to understanding who God is and consequently who we
ieally aie is to stait with Jesus. Te pioblem is that theie aie a lot of veisions
of Jesus out theie. Te only tiustwoithy way to undeistand Jesus is to
study His Word with others in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must have
a trustworthy, authoritative source. Tat source is the Bible, the inspired
Word of God.
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WEEK 1: EXERCISE #3
If we are created in the image of the invisible God and yet that image
has been ruined by sin, we have a problem. God is invisible. How are we to
see that which we aie to become:
If Jesus is the visible iepiesentation of the invisible God we have a
solution: oui quest is to encountei this Jesus as ievealed by Woid and Spiiit.

Read 2 Corinthians 3:124:6.
Make some observations about what you learn from this text.
What does Paul teach us heie about encounteiing Jesus:
Make a note of any questions this text raises for you.
According to this text, what is the role of the Holy Spirit in leading
us to encountei Jesus:
Encounter
Using a jouinal to iecoid youi thoughts and a highlightei to maik youi
Bible, iead slowly thiough Isaiah 42:1-7. Maik any woids oi phiases you believe
point to the coming Messiah. Meditate on those words youve highlighted.
How do you encountei Jesus in this Old Testament passage: How does Isaiah
desciibe the chaiactei of God's chosen One: Make a list of attiibutes.
Now, repeat this same exercise using Isaiah 53. How do you encounter
Jesus in this passage: What do you leain about the chaiactei of God's Messiah:
In youi jouinal, wiite a piayei of piaise to Jesus that iefects what
youve learned about Him in this encounter.
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WEEK 1: EXERCISE #4
In oui quest to encountei Jesus, we may gain the laigest peispective by
beginning with the end. Tis weeks video teaching comes from Matthews
Gospel, wheie Jesus talks heie about His second coming and the end of the
age. Lets look together at some of the texts well encounter in the teaching
session.
In Matthew 24:4-14, Jesus explains to His followeis about the end of the
age. Some call it the end times," when Jesus will ietuin to ieign supieme. In
this scene, it is two days befoie the Passovei and Jesus has been teaching in the
temple in Jeiusalem. As He leaves the temple, He comments to His disciples
that not one stone will be lef on anothei and that eveiy one will be thiown
down." Tey tiavel up to the Mount of Olives, about a mile fiom Jeiusalem,
and look out ovei the city. Te disciples begin to ask Jesus specifcally what
will happen at the end of the age when He comes again.
As Jesus gazes out ovei the Holy City, His mission to fulfll His Fathei's
puipose looms laige. Jesus doesn't just see a city down below. When Jesus gazes
down, He sees" with God's peispective. He sees beyond the walls of the city
and into the hearts of the people who live there. His perspective comes from
the heart of the Father who sent Him on a mission to reach all nations. Te end
game: Tat all may come to encounter Him as Lord and Savior.
Te disciples' peispective, on the othei hand, is much difeient. Tey
aie all about the when" and how" of Jesus' second coming, not so much
the impact of His message in the heie and now." Tey aie moie inteiested
in knowing the facts than in living a Kingdom life.
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Read Matthew 24:45.
Te Gieek woid foi watch" in this passage is blepo. Tat word means
to look at, to become aware of, observe and discern or perceive. In contrast,
to deceive" means to make a peison believe that which is not tiue, to
mislead them or lead them astray.
What do you think the disciples' peiception was of the city of Jeiusalem
as they looked down fiom the Mount of Olives:
What does Jesus wain His disciples to watch out foi:
Read Matthew 24:610.
Jesus tells His disciples not to be alaimed oi tioubled in veise 6. Te
Greek word here is throeo. It means to wail or be frightened. In verse 8,
biith pains" in the Gieek is odino, which means that all the sufeiing,
death, and destruction is only the beginning of pain and anguish.
Afei Jesus paints such a bleak pictuie of the futuie, how do you think
the disciples felt:
What do you think ultimately kept the disciples from being alarmed
and what kept them faithful to Jesus:
Read Matthew 24:1114.
In veise 13, we iead Jesus' instiuction to stand fim to the end. Standing
fim" means to enduie; to beai tiials and have foititude; to peiseveie and
iemain steadfast; to be faithful to the end.
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How will the disciples stand frm during this impending time of
wickedness and piotect theii heaits fiom giowing cold:
What does Jesus tell the disciples will be the iewaid foi standing fim:
What will be the ultimate iesult of theii faithfulness:
Encounter
In the traditional liturgy of the Eucharist, we proclaim the mystery of
the faith: Chiist has died. Chiist is iisen. Chiist will come again." We may
not undeistand the univeisal impact of these woids (they aie a mysteiy, afei
all!), yet they aie oui hope. Chiist has come, and Chiist will come again!
Say these woids aloud to youiself. Chiist has died. Chiist is iisen.
Chiist will come again." Wiite them as a heading in youi jouinal, then
iefect on what they mean foi you. What emotions do they evoke:
Meditate on the picture of the second coming of the Messiah as it is
painted foi us by John in Revelation 19:11-16. What new images of Jesus
do you discovei in this passage: How does this pictuie of Jesus compaie
with the images you found in Isaiah:
In youi jouinal, wiite a piayei of piaise to Jesus inspiied by what you
learn about Him in Revelation 19.
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WEEK 1: EXERCISE #5
Jesus wants His disciples to begin to see things as He sees them. He
wants them to have the bigger picture, to have eyes to see and ears to hear
what the Spirit is saying to the world.
It is the same foi us. Jesus wants all who follow Him to see things fiom
His peispective. Tat means not just getting facts, but having an authentic
encountei with Jesus, the Chiist. By studying His woids, undeistanding
His compassion for people, and grasping His eternal perspective, we can
carry on the Kingdom business God entrusted to His Son.
Jesus' woids in Matthew 24 aie poweiful and diiect. He wants us to
know Him in the deepest, most personal way. He wants us to watch out, be
aware, and perceive those who would mislead us. He wants us to have the
spiritual courage to remain faithful even when it is hard. When we trust
His promise of deliverance and keep our perspective and priorities focused
on Him, we will encountei the authentic Jesus.
Read Romans 10:1215.
Accoiding to this passage, how is salvation achieved:
How would you put this passage in chart formbeginning with the
gospel message and ending with the one who shaies it:
How is the Jesus asking you to shaie the good news in youi life:
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Encounter
If there is one thing weve learned in life, it is that we human beings
have an almost infnite capacity to deceive ourselves. Its why we desperately
need the Word of God and the community of the church.
How do you iecognize deception: Wheie in youi life aie you most
likely to be led astiay:
Have you had a saving encountei with Jesus Chiist: Have you tiusted
Chiist as youi Savioi: Aie you ieady to make that decision, oi do you need
moie time to leain and considei it all:
What is youi spiiitual stoiy: Wiite it down in a few paiagiaphs. Would
you be willing to considei shaiing that with youi gioup:
In what ways do you think you iefect the image of Jesus Chiist: In
what ways do you think you defect His image:
Do you ieally believe that Jesus Chiist is coming again to judge the
living and the dead: What questions do you have: What doubts:
Does Jesus' ietuin evoke feai in you oi hope oi some mixtuie of the
two: Desciibe that.
In tough times, what helps you to stay faithful: What piactices keep
you spiiitually centeied: What habits help to keep youi heait waim":
What peisonal commitments will you make as a iesult of this study: